Young voters in Pakistan account for almost 43% of the total voters in the upcoming elections.
Out of 46 million voters around 17.5 million voters are between the age of 18 and 25 years, while 27.5 million voters are aged between 26 to 35.
Pakistan currently has the highest youth population in its entire history according to UNDP Pakistan.
Its National Youth Perception Survey states that only 24% of youth expressed ‘trust in politicians’ for failing to address their issues. However, 90% of males and 55% of females expressed their intention to vote in the 2018 general elections.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of Pakistan People's Party speaks to journalists in Peshawar, Pakistan, 14 July 2018. Source: AAP
Follow SBS Urdu on Facebook and Twitter.
Karachi-based political commentator, Amjad Bashir, says that while youth in Pakistan show a major distrust in the government’s performance they're positive about the democratic system.
“The youth trend indicates disgust for forces of status quo by majority youth, while at the same time indicate a larger and ‘welcome’ preference for the democratic process.”
Generation of mobile and social media
According to , there are around 32 million Facebook users in Pakistan and about 45 million internet users.
A majority of them are young mobile users and will be voting for the first time in the upcoming elections.
For them, social media is a major source of news and information about party campaigns, as well as how the candidates are performing in their constituencies.
But the online sphere has also made the politicians accountable, says Ajmad Bashir.
Supporters of Imran Khan, head of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) listen to his speech, during an election campaign in Karachi, Pakistan, 22 July 2018. Source: AAP
“Videos uploaded on social platforms showing politicians like Independent, Sikandar Hayat Bosan, MQM-P Farooq Sattar, PML-N Jamal Leghari and even PTI Chairman Imran Khan being taunted and grilled for lack of performance or alleged corrupt practices, shifting political allegiances.
"In fact in the past, videos of ballot papers being stuffed in the ballot boxes have also emerged,” Mr Bashir said.
“Becoming viral in real time videos have become an instant tool of accountability and building awareness.”
However, this is not the first time social media is being used for elections.
Ajmad Bashir says the 2013 polls were truly called Pakistan’s First Twitter Elections.
"The social media platforms also became a vehicle for campaign updates, voter engagement," he tells SBS Urdu.
"The PTI and the PML-N largely used Twitter to interact with voters as compared to moderate use by the PPP and the MQM.
"According to certain studies into the 2013 election trends, the 30 million youth who voted for the first time helped PTI’s Imran Khan to victory in the KPK as well as significant numbers in the three other provinces, a massive improvement over other years."
A worker sorts ballot boxes to be sent to polling stations at an office of the Election Commission of Pakistan, ahead of the 25 July general elections. Source: AAP
New vote to improve turn out
According to Gallup Pakistan, the election 2013 witnessed a major jump in voter turnout to 53% compared to 44% in 2008.
Mr Bashir said it was the youth vote that made the difference as new voters came out and became part of election process.
“The youth also swelled the voter turn out from the slim 44% in 2008, despite unprecedented levels of violence."
2013 – 53%
2008 – 44%
2002 – 40%
1997 – 35%
1993 – 39%
1990 – 46%
1988 – 42%
1977 – 62%
1970 – 64%
